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I hate moving. I don't like leaving behind people that I've only just gotten a chance to get to know; friends that I've just made. I should be used to uprooting at a moment's notice by this point, but it's not natural for me, not even in the slightest. At least this time is going to be something completely different, and if I'm lucky, Da' will be able to get a permanent position up north. This'll be the first time we've gone anywhere that isn't in the middle of the desert. A change of scenery could be nice, I suppose. I wish I knew what my parents' hometown was like. Supposedly this new place is incredibly similar.

So throughout the week of driving that I've been forced into, I'm trying my best to convince myself that I don't hate this particular move too. I'm only a couple of days in, but it might be the only way I can avoid getting into another argument with my parents. I've got the time to adequately convince myself, too. I know exactly how they'll respond if I vehemently go against the move like before. Because it's a move up north, they'll bring up the whole "you've never seen snow in your life! Imagine, a snow leopard who's never seen snow" point again. I was embarrassed enough the first time they went over that with me. I don't want to deal with it a second time. I guess it'll be nice to see the kind of environment that my parents grew up in. Plus, I never really liked the dry, oppressive heat of the south terribly much anyway. Yeah, a change of scenery is exactly what I need. Getting away from everything isn't what I'd like; I'd like to be able to make and keep friends for longer than a few months before being forced to move away. But until I get a job - which is hard enough to do while still going through online college courses that take up most of my time - I'm stuck with my family.

That's not a terrible thing, really. My family isn't all that bad. Honestly, it has to be harder on my little brother. Poor boy has to adjust to being the new kid at every school he goes to, only to leave it a half year later at best. He actually has to interact with a mess of people on a daily basis, and he really tries his hardest to make friends that he can stay in touch with, even if he knows he may never see them again. I go out of my way with the little free time that I do have and find a collection of people with similar interests to me, usually by bar-hopping and striking up random conversations. Not the best way to go about it, but I get a good feel for the heartbeat of the town that way. Either way, it's quite a bit better than simply interacting with the classmates I have in my online courses, even if I do like a few of them. There's no substitute for physical contact and getting to talk to someone in person. Not to say I don't appreciate the friends I have online. Quite the opposite, really. They're a big reason I've stayed sane through my many moves. But they can't give me a pat on the shoulder as we laugh, or a hug when I'm upset, or drive me home when I get completely smashed at the bar. Things like that swirling around in my head make me let out a soft sigh as I drive through yet another stretch of boring flat land on my way up north.

I don't understand how anyone can live in this part of the country. I'm sure it's really pretty during the spring and summer, but during the winter months it's so dreary and depressing. Miles and miles of nothing but shrubs, small copses of bare trees, and the huge expanse of low hanging gray clouds. It's only November, and it looks like this place has been bleak for years. No wonder I feel so gloomy today. I don't mind the clouds, not one bit, but when the landscape looks dead as far as the eye can see, it really starts to wear on me. Then again, I'm used to brown, brown, and more brown. Occasionally a different shade in the sand, or the red of some mountains, but in the end it's just the same. Every now and again I get lucky and we have some green in the town we end up in. Maybe this will be another one of those places.

It's barely past midday at this point and I'm trying my best to not be a complete emotional head case because of my surroundings. I end up spending the rest of the day trying to imagine what the new town is going to look like so I don't lose my mind. It's farther north than I've ever been, so I bet it'll have more bears and tigers than I'm used to, and maybe even some wolverines too. Wolves and the occasional fox, I'm sure as well. They're everywhere. Probably not many of the desert types, like fennecs and coyotes and ringtails and mice, but there may be a few. Other families that have moved around, or even college students. You never really know. That old familiar excitement starts to take the place of my previous gloom as I think about it. New people! New places to explore! And on top of all of that, it's all in a place that isn't going to be a pain to walk around in, if my parents are right.

I'm not built for the heat, I can tell you that without question. My black spotted white fur is too thick for life in the south to be comfortable, and I had always enjoyed the bits of time I got to spend in the slightly cooler states. Besides, winter has always been my favorite season. It makes me feel alive like nothing else really has before. At least, when it gets below seventy degrees outside, that is. Despite my hatred of bouncing from town to town, state to state, I do like exploring, and getting out of the desert is the best thing that's happened as far as new places go.

I'm thinking in circles after a few hours, it seems. Where is that hotel that Da' told me to look out for? Supposedly he knows the owner there pretty well, or at least that's the reason he gave for us not staying in one closer to the town. Shouldn't be hard to spot with how little there is to look for. I see a speck on the horizon; maybe that's it. Seems too big to be one of the little shrubs around here. I check my phone with just a glance to where it is on the dashboard to make sure I haven't missed anything that I need to know, and I see the new message indicator on the screen. That'll probably be my little brother relaying information from Da'.

I turn up my music to drown out my own thoughts, though it only partially works. As I get closer and closer to the hotel we're going to be staying at, my thoughts predictably turn towards sleep. It's been a long day of driving, though I covered the distance quite a bit faster than my parents and brother in the moving truck. I'm aching for a shower, or maybe even a bath, and a warm bed to lay down in. Of course, I'm gonna need to check on my classes when I get the chance to fire up my laptop, but that's only hovering around in the back of my mind. I'm more concerned about getting out of this car and on my feet again, if just for a little bit. I can actually make out the hotel now, the biggest building for miles around. There's not much in the area; a convenience store, a gas station, the hotel, and a small restaurant right next door. I can make out what looks like a small town way down the road, but I'm not one hundred percent sure that's what it is. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it.

I pull into the hotel parking lot at seven in the evening and immediately check my phone. Lucas 6:15 pm: reservation should be under our last name, for the suite. you got the credit card, right?

I shoot back a quick affirmative and slide my phone into my pocket. I grab my laptop bag and my backpack out of the passenger seat and hop out of the car, stretching my arms up as soon as I'm standing straight. Gods, it feels good to be out of the car. Shouldering both bags, I make my way into the lobby of the hotel.

A bored looking coyote is sitting behind the counter when I walk in, but he perks up and gives me a winning smile when he sees me angle towards the counter. "Welcome to the Roadside Inn, what can I do for you?" he asks.

I tap a finger on the counter after stepping up and give a tired grin back. "Should have a reservation already, just need to check in. Room's under Yosler."

The coyote taps a few keys and shifts his gaze to his computer screen, then reaches under the counter and produces a piece of paper. "Gotcha right here, but I'll need the card and a piece of ID." I slip both out of my wallet and hand them over. He checks the picture, sniffs the card once, then grabs a set of key cards with the hotel's name on them from under the counter. He hands all four cards back to me once I sign the paper with a little brighter smile than before. "Here you go, Mr. Yosler, Room 493. Enjoy your stay. Let me know if you need anything else."

I glance at his name tag briefly, then shove the cards into my pocket and give him a nod and a wave. "Sure thing, Sorin. Thanks." I turn and find my way to the closest elevator. I step in and mash the button for the fourth floor, thinking briefly on how different the coyote's manner was from what I'm used to down south. Much nicer, and he even seemed eager to help me. I'm not terribly used to that yet, but it could just be because of the different areas. I have been driving for around twelve hours today. This isn't the southeast anymore, not by a long shot, so maybe this is just how people are around here. Another thought strikes me in the back of the head as the doors open on the fourth floor. It could just be a different area... or maybe he was flirting with me. Let me know if you need anything else. Am I adding something to the tone of his voice in my memory? And am I imagining the unnecessary friendliness of his eyes? I could always go back and ask; there are hardly any cars in front of the hotel, it can't be terribly busy. Would that be too forward? I wouldn't mind having a bit of company before my parents show up. Although I haven't decided what kind of company that is, yet.

I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts. What am I thinking? I've never done anything with a guy before, for one, I don't even know if I'd like it. Though the coyote did have a really pretty smile... Ugh. I shove the card key into the slot of the door and push into the room when the little light flashes green. I need that shower. I set my laptop bag on the desk in the entryway, then toss my backpack onto the chair, heading immediately to the bathroom with the biggest shower. I strip on the way into the room, leaving a trail of clothes behind me. I know that the rest of my family is hours and hours behind me on the road, so I don't really care about decency right now.

I turn on the water, adjust the temperature for a moment or two, then step in under it, closing my eyes as the warmth washes over me. I lean forward and rest my head against the wall, letting the water rinse the day's issues and stress down the drain with it. My shoulders droop, I relax, and I think less about what tomorrow is going to bring and more about what to do tonight. I'm pretty sure I saw a bar down near the lobby, so I think that'll be a decent stop. I could use a drink after today. Hell, I could use five, truthfully. We'll see how I feel after one or two.

I take my time in the shower, giving myself a good rubdown with the fur shampoo and then the conditioner (it's more expensive than the stuff I normally use) before I finally shut off the water. I grab a towel off the rack and manage to get most of my body most of the way dry, but I need to use another towel for my legs and tail. After that, I walk out and dig around in my bag for my brush, immediately getting to work on my tail's long fur before moving on to the rest of me. Once I'm satisfied with how my fur is shining, I move back to my bag for clothes.

What to wear, what to wear? I dig through my backpack for my black button down, thinking that the short sleeves should be fine. Just to make sure, I throw on a plain white shirt underneath it and leave the buttons undone, finishing the ensemble off with my tighter black jeans. I take a moment to check myself in the bathroom mirror before grabbing a card key and slipping out of the hotel room.

It's not hard to find the walk-in hotel restaurant, and the bar that it has over in the corner. The raccoon behind the counter doesn't even ask for my ID when I order a rum and Coke, just mixes the drink and sets it down in front of me. I turn around and lean against the bar, actually spotting the coyote from the front desk sauntering into the restaurant, no longer in his hotel uniform. I blink a few times, then manage to catch his eye with a wave. He perks up and smiles, immediately moving over to join me at the bar. This could be interesting. "Hey, Mr. Yosler, right?"

"Daniel, please. And you're Sorin, yes?" I give him a small smile, turning back to the bar as he slides onto the stool beside me.

He seems surprised that I remember his name. "Yeah, that's me. How's the drink?"

I swirl the liquid in the glass around once and take another sip. "It's the same as any other rum and Coke I've ever had. Been around a lot, so I've had a few." I shrug. "Basic enough. Still good."

He rewards the dry response with a smirk and a shrug. "Simple is usually good." He taps the bar to get the bartender's attention. "Whiskey sour, please." He glances at me from the corner of his eyes. I pretend not to notice. "So, I have to ask, since we don't get many people your age through here. What brings you to our dismal part of the country?"

"Moving, sadly. Da' is military so we're always moving with him." I take a sip of my drink and pause for a moment after. "What about you? Local?"

He smiles at the bartender as he grabs his freshly made drink off the counter, sipping it slowly. "Kinda. Was born a little further north but my great, great grandad started the business here..." He looks back towards the lobby of the hotel and stares for just a few moments. "Didn't have the money at the time for college, so I came here to work for my dad when I graduated high school."

Hold on, did he really just say what I think he did? "Wait, you mean your dad is the owner of this place?" My voice and expression is more than obviously showing surprise at this point.

He looks back to me with a little smile, but his ears are pinned back against his head. "Yeah, Roadside's been in the family for a few generations. It's not bad work, I guess. Free food and booze when I want." His smile grows at this part. "Not a bad gig."

"Doesn't sound like it's that bad. But customer service can be stressful no matter what."

He nods and laps at his drink again. "I kinda wanna get out of here. Dad has been tossing around the idea of getting me to go to college up north, for a business major or something." He waves a paw, almost dismissively. "It's not like I really know many people here or there, so I don't really care much."

I laugh at that, finding the words so similar, yet so starkly different to my own. "I wish I could just stay in one place. Tired of moving around so much." My tail curls underneath the barstool. "Gets kinda lonely on the road. I got a few people online I talk to a lot though, which helps." I keep my eyes on the countertop, not looking for his reaction.

He's quiet for a little bit, long enough to make me fold my smaller ears back against my head, thinking I may have gone the wrong direction. That's when I feel his paw pat me on the shoulder, and I look up again to see his smile and sparkling green eyes. "It's good that you've got people to talk to. Gotta have some sort of outlet for everything, right?" He pulls back his arm and tips his drink to his narrow muzzle. "That's what I think, anyway."

I perk my ears back up and give him another smile. Maybe it wasn't the wrong direction.

We spend what feels like a few hours sitting right there at the bar, trading stories and talking about high school. I down another three drinks while he finishes off four. I can see him wobbling the slightest bit on the stool and I know that I'm not exactly sober either. I figure I can do one more drink, then get some water and head back to my room. So as I turn to try and signal the bartender, I spot a tall, somewhat muscular snow leopard out in the lobby. Two more spotted felines follow and I immediately recognize my family. Da's scanning the lobby for me and I excuse myself from the bar with a quick, "Hold that thought, Sorin," and I walk over and catch my da's attention with a wave. The taller feline smiles and hoists his bag on his shoulder, meeting me at the entrance to the restaurant.

"I see you've made yourself right at home."

My ears go down, but I give him a smile in return all the same. "Sorin just joined me at the bar, we've just been talking." I hand him the card key from my pocket.

His eyebrow raises and his eyes get this playful gleam that I haven't seem in them for years. "Sorin? Sorin Geriston?"

I glance over my shoulder at the coyote and shrug. "Yeah I know who he is. He didn't recognize your name though."

He just smiles more and shakes his head. "Alright, well I'll send Luke down with an extra card key for you in a few minutes." And with that, he turns and gives me a wave over his shoulder as he and my mum and brother follow him to the elevators. I turn as well and make my way back to the bar.

Sorin's eyes are pretty wide as he watches me the whole way. "Was that your dad?" He asks as soon as I get close.

I give him an odd look and nod while I take my seat again. "Yeah, and the rest of my family. They were in the moving truck."

"My pa has a picture of that guy in his office! Always tells me "that cat saved my life a few times" whenever I ask. Always says that they were in the same unit in the war."

I'm not really sure how to respond to that. I knew that my dad was friends with the owner of the hotel, but I'd never heard anything about him. Saved his life, you say? I think I can work with that. "Wow, that's something else. All I've ever heard is that he was friends with a hotel owner that left his unit after an injury. Guess that's your da' then." I meet his gaze with what I hope is a mischievous sparkle in my eyes. I've decided I want to spend more time around this Sorin. It might be the alcohol helping me make this decision, but it can't just be coincidence. I know my dad pretty well by now, and he knows me more than I can rightly appreciate. Well Da', you win this one. "Kinda funny, huh? Our parents have known each other for ages and here we've just met." I finally catch the bartender's attention, flighty looking raccoon that he is, and convey that I need a refill on my rum and coke. I get a nod and only a moment later, a new glass is being slid to me down the bar. I wet my muzzle with a fresh sip, relishing the familiar burn before turning to gauge my companion's expression.

He's got the strangest half grin on his muzzle. A long expression on his long muzzle that I'm not used to seeing. I can't say I've had a large number of canid friends. It's a curious thing that I puzzle over for a bit longer until I realize that he's speaking again. Shit, I might be too drunk to multitask. "...but I think that might be giving him a bit too much credit." Well I'm lost.

Just gotta play it off. "I can't say I'd be able to say the same,"

He quirks an eyebrow at me with a lift to the corner of his muzzle that looks more like a natural thing than any look I've gotten from him yet. Maybe the stereotype of coyotes is true after all? "You think? Maybe your dad's clever enough. All my pa really seems to understand anymore is hotels and the war. At least, that's all he's talked about for the past four years. He won't even answer me about getting out of here to go north aside from when he talks about making my plans for me. I've got plenty of money for it on my own, by now." His muzzle drops with a scowl and he pauses for just a breath, then downs the rest of his own drink. He's wobbling again.

Then a gust of wind breezes in from the Employees Only door next to the bar. I turn and see the bartender himself disappearing through it and the dark hallway beyond as well. The chill on the wind makes me shiver in the best of ways. It carries the pure scent of winter with it and it almost pulls me from my seat with the temptation. I try to hide the feeling as soon as I get it, though, a little ashamed to be so bare with it in front of the coyote.

Drunk as he is, Sorin catches the slight motion anyway and it brings back that long muzzled smirk of his. I think I like where that smirk may be leading, now. "You were coming through from the south, right? Ever been this far north?"

I feel my ears flush at the insinuation, but I get to blame the alcohol for the courage to admit it. "Never have. Always been around the desert and coastal towns." I say, eyes glued to my drink before it too disappears. The lingering warmth from it settles and I look up into gleaming green eyes.

I get zero warning before he grabs my paw off the counter and tugs me around towards the Employees Only door. I'm embarrassed to say that I let out a surprised mewl before catching my balance and following after the enthusiastic canine. He pushes through the door and I see the reason for the chill breeze. At the end of the hallway is another door, this one propped open enough to let in the cool air of outside. And at that gap, I can see a small pile of white. Snow!

It's snowing outside!

Sorin glances over his shoulder at just the right time to catch my shocked expression and meets it with a yet wider grin that I'm growing to like already. "C'mon, you've gotta see this. It's the only reason this place is worthwhile in the winter."

And boy, is he ever right.

Any words I could really have for the sight are smacked right out of my mind by the wall of cold that we run into when the door is opened further. I'm paralyzed by it, shuddering in anticipation, but he forges ahead, half-dragging me with him. The moment I step through the door and into the frigid night I can feel something shift inside me, some of that lingering bitterness towards the move just melt away. This is what we're moving towards. I can look forward to this every day during the winter, instead of just seeing the season as a break from the mid 90 degrees. I take another few steps out, leaving the small pool of yellow light from an outside fixture behind so I can watch the tiny white flakes drift down through the muffled moonlight. It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen before in my life.

The soft crunch of the gravel underpaw warns me of Sorin walking up behind me, I feel a hesitant paw touch my back and I take two heartbeats to make a decision. I said I wanted some company and damnit if Sorin didn't just endear himself to me so perfectly. So I lean into the paw, moving one to loop around his waist in kind. As I had originally suspected of him, I immediately feel the warmth of his arms circle around me. That coupled with the cool sensation of snowflakes landing on my muzzle and ears gets a flush to build up in my cheeks, But it was right, in that moment, and I leaned against his shoulder as he moved right in next to me, settling likewise against my side.

I can't say how long we stood there, with me looking out over the miles of slowly whitening landscape, resting in the arms of this boy I officially met at a bar just a pawful of hours ago. The fact that I could lean my head against his shoulder without having to slouch is beyond nice, and I attribute that fact to the reason that I wasn't finding the lack of words bothersome. It just seemed fitting, somehow. Is that the alcohol talking? I don't know.

After another stretch of unmeasurable time, I hear the crunch of more paws in the snow covered gravel, signalling the approach of someone new. I turn, noticing that only Sorin's ears follow my movement and the new footsteps. It's an older coyote, slightly taller than Sorin and dressed to the nines. I mean, like a three piece suit with heavy leather gloves kind of nice. I'm not rightly ready to leave the warm arms of my new coyote friend, so I just narrow my eyes at him as he approaches.

"I thought I'd find you out here. I see you two have already made each other's acquaintances, then," he remarks, folding his paws behind him. "How many drinks in are you tonight, Sorin?"

I watch the younger coyote's ears fold back, but he answers, only slightly slurred. "No more than last night, pa."

Oh, that's who this is. I feel my muzzle flush warmer and my ears follow suit right after, but I'm confident the elder canine can't see it in the faint light. "Then you'll at least remember tonight," he mutters. "I suppose I should apologize for ignoring a lot of your pleas to leave the hotel business. It never really struck me as your cup of tea." I could have told him that and I've only known Sorin for a few hours. "But I'm remedying that tonight. Stay with the Yoslers. They'll take you north for school, if you still wish to do that."

That makes both of us pause. We can take Sorin with us? With me? I know we haven't spent a lot of time together, but there's something here, maybe just friendship. That'd be nice, though. I'm already feeling anxious towards the car tomorrow. Will he stay with me tonight?

Similar things must be going through the coyote's mind, as I feel him stiffen up, his ears going straight up even as he gasps. I cut him off, to get those green eyes to look at me, even in frustration. "You talked to Da' about this, sir?" It occurs to me halfway through my plan that I don't know their last name. Oh well, I can rectify that tomorrow. I watch the elder coyote with anticipation, finally letting my tail uncoil and sway against Sorin's legs.

But all he does is nod slowly, motioning back towards the hotel. "He and I have planned this since he heard about his relocation. We both believe that you two will get along and do well by each other, as your father I have in the past." His eyes are soft and understanding.

To my dismay and satisfaction, Sorin's warmth moves away from me and I settle onto my own feet again, albeit a bit unsteadily. Sorin likewise wobbles a bit even as he shuffles over to his dad. "Y'serious, pa? I can leave?"

The emotion from that statement hangs in the air around us, thicker than I expected, until Sorin's dad nods, the smile melting further across his features. I feel like I'm witnessing something important here, but the haze about my thoughts, the chill in the air, and the occasional wetness of a snowflake landing on my muzzle makes it hard to focus on the canines.

So I don't see the nod that Sorin gets, nor the hug that my drunk new friend crushes his father in. But I do get swept up afterwards, distracted by the snow as I am, as that young coyote wraps those strong arms around me instead and picks me up, promptly twirling me around. His laugh is musical. I just want him to put me down so the world stops spinning.

Fortunately, it starts spinning for a different reason the moment he sets me down. I wasn't sure what all the coyote thought about me, but one thing was really clear about this. He was really excited to leave, and he expressed that by grabbing my muzzle and pressing his against it.

"You've always been in the same areas, Daniel, the same ruts. This'll be a chance to change all of that, to change how you look at things." My da' had told me this originally when I argued against moving with them. Well Da'. How right you were.

I'll never forget my first snowfall.